You’d think that as adults we’d be past the angst and awkwardness of making friends. But if anything, making new friends get harder as we get older. There’s less time and more responsibility. And while we may have more choice over who we spend our time with, it feels like there are few opportunities to actually bond with people now that we’re not forced to be around them five days a week.

I sat down with my good friend Janani to talk through the challenges involved, and the tips we’ve picked up from our own experiences. J is a doctor (!!!), so instead of following her on socials, send her good vibes for making it through a medical degree and the last two years as a medical professional. She deserves it!

As two people who’ve moved around a bit in our adult lives, we’ve had our fair share of awkward conversations and failures to connect. But we’ve also managed to surround ourselves with great people, and embrace our awkwardness (sort of).  We delve into unconventional ways and places to make friends, actually having that all important coffee catch-up, and a quick refresher on how to check your moles for melanoma.

I hope you have a laugh, and get some tips on how to branch out and find some new people to enrich your life with. Or just feel less self-conscious about that silly thing you said (because no one else is thinking about it).

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast. 

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is our search for love making us bad people? Is liking dogs a personality trait? Why don't dating apps have Clippy? In this episode I team up with Maddie and Nic for fun, light hearted banter and serious philosophical questions.

Maddie and Nic host WTF is Happening podcast, where they talk about all things pop-culture and their sometimes valid opinions about it. You can find them on Instagram here.

Nic is the personification of an entertainment industry Wikipedia. More than a lovely human, he’s a witty, iconic vibe. Maddie is the owner of Harness Creation, a ‘do it yourself’ studio for hire where creators of all mediums can make excellent content. You can check it out on Instagram, or head to her website to find out more about the services and spaces on offer.

Some of the things we talk about are: the pettiest reasons we’ve rejected someone, if we should feel worse for making snap judgments about someone’s looks or the things they say, and the morality of ghosting. It was one of the most fun recording sessions I’ve had, and it shows.

I hope this episode makes you laugh, and gives you more nuanced perspectives on our modern quest for love (and the ridiculousness of it all).  

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

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A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast. 

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever since Brené Brown’s TEDtalk, we’ve been waking up to the fact that vulnerability is the key to authenticity, connection, stronger relationships, and personal growth. An in-depth discussion about the courage and power of vulnerability with a member of the armed forces is perhaps not a typical combination, but that’s exactly what this is. My guest Dylan’s candour, humour, and insightful commentary brought so many layers to this episode and I cannot wait for you to hear it.

CAPT Dylan Conway is an Infantry Officer in the Australian army, writer, and founder and CEO of the charity brothersnbooks which has a beautiful community on Instagram and Facebook. He encourages reading as a form of meditation, self growth and resilience after suffering an injury that placed him in bed for 14 months. 

Oh, and he’s now a publisher too! His poetry book “In Plain Sight“ by Shaun Austin is out now, and already a best seller in multiple categories.

Dylan and I talk about what vulnerability is, the negative connotations, how it enriches our lives, how we personally foster it in ourselves, and about using it to connect with others. And of course, plenty of books.

I hope that this conversation gives you good laughs, new ways of thinking, and some extra encouragement to bravely open yourself up. It's scary, but definitely worth it.

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

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A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever been driving, and suddenly wondered what you would do if you broke down? Now you don’t have to! …. As much as you did before!

This week’s guest is Maddi “Macgyver” Römcke; an actor, writer, theatre creator and generally joyful human being who, to use a totally overused phrase: has a smile that lights up the room. You should absolutely follow her on Instagram to keep up with her work.

The episode is full of Maddi’s amazing car stories which definitely did not give me second-hand anxiety, and some helpful tips for what to keep in your car and how to deal with some basic problems. We talk about over-heating on the Gold Coast highway, how to change a tyre, the deep satisfaction of using jumper cables, and how you should never ever drive through flood waters. Hopefully this is helpful, but neither of us is a mechanic, so if you're ever unsure we advise that you call roadside assistance.

It has been a very weird and upsetting few weeks, so I hope that you get to laugh with Maddi and I.

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast. 

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life is hard enough without us getting in our own way. And yet so often, that’s exactly what we do. In this episode I chat with my first international guest, Stephenie Zamora, about why we do this and how we can stop doing it.

Stephenie is an author and coach, business and marketing strategist, and founder of Stephenie Zamora Media—a digital media and production company, publishing house, and a full-service life-purpose development, branding, and online marketing boutique. Stephenie's work helps catalyse individuals on their healing and growth journeys so they can uncover the purpose of their path, step into who they're here to be, and do the work they're here to do.

Together we unpack the root causes of self-sabotage and how it can manifest in our lives, core wounds (the negative beliefs that lead us to self-sabotage), and how we can overcome these old internal narratives to go after what we want.

Stephenie and her team have just released three new books to help us live our purpose, cultivate more confidence, and make the impossible happen. You can find them and her other products on her website here. And you can check out her other work and adventures on Instagram, Youtube or Twitter.

I hope this episode helps you understand yourself better. In it I reach for this quote by Aristotle: "knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." Self-awareness is a cornerstone of growth, and pretty darn important as an adult. But just as vital is self-compassion. Often we are quicker to be compassionate with our friends and family than ourselves, even if we make the same mistakes. So I hope this episode helps you become kinder towards yourself too. You deserve it.

Keep well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod where we do pep talks every Sunday, and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

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A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast. 

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many things in life, internships are not exactly like in the movies. Yes, it’s a way to get experience as a young professional, or someone who wants to completely change careers/industries. But internships are mostly menial work, and sometimes we can question if they are worth it if there isn’t a job at the end. In this episode, Gabbi Samadi and I share our stories (the good and the embarrassing) from both sides of the intern experience.

Gabbi owns and operates Gabbi J Digital, a social media agency that empowers small businesses to be found, loved, and trusted online. She’s also a university lecturer in Media and Communications, with a knack for incorporating trending and relatable topics into the learning experience (AKA using Taylor Swift and reality TV in lecture notes as much as possible). You can find Gabbi and her business on Instagram, Facebook, or any other social media app sharing handy marketing tips and explainers.

Together we talk about long term vs. short term internships, what businesses are looking for, how to get the most out of the experience, and refer to the almighty FAIRWORK OMBUDSMAN for the legalities and how to spot if you’re being taken advantage of. We hope this helps you feel less nervous about the whole thing, and more confident in finding ways to grow through the experience.

Keep well,

Paula

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You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

A That’s Not Canon Productions podcast. 

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Applying for jobs is not known for being fun, and anyone who says they’ve never had a mental breakdown while doing it is a liar. In this episode, Reegan Milne and I decode common buzz words, talk through red flags, and give tips on finding the “through-line” of what our potential new boss really wants from us.

Reegan is a Brisbane based stand-up comic and a wise friend who brings depth and belly laughs to a really stressful topic. You can find him on Instagram and head to one of his gigs so you can laugh with him in person!

We did a bunch of research for this episode, but it is largely drawn from our personal experiences and the things we wish we’d known sooner. I hope this makes you feel less alone, and gives you some helpful advice for the next application you send off.

Keep well,

Paula

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You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

Produced by That’s Not Canon Productions.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month we welcome back one of my favourite Brits, Dom Murphy! Dom is a freelance videographer, editor, film-maker and extraordinarily good human.

My audio sounds like it’s fueled by dial up internet while I work out the kinks of recording from home, but you can still hear everything clearly. Which is good because Dom has great advice for aspiring film creatives, recent grads, and freelancers.

In this episode he breaks down terminology, talks us through the hierarchy of a film set, offers insights on how to crack your first proper jobs, and the ins and outs of freelancing. It is a super valuable episode for anyone who is serious about becoming part of the industry and I’m so grateful for Dom’s time, insight, and candour.

You can find him on Instagram and Facebook, or check out his website here.

Tag the podcast when you listen so we can get excited about it!

Keep Well,

Paula

You can find us on Instagram as @stumblethroughpod and on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast.

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Produced by That’s Not Canon Productions. Graphics by Claudia Piggott. Music by Jessica Fletcher.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.